🎄 Dog-Friendly Holiday Traditions to Start This Year

The holidays look a little different when there’s a dog in the family—there’s more laughter, more crumbs on the floor, and at least one ornament mysteriously missing from the tree. They may not understand Christmas morning, but they certainly understand excitement, connection, and cozy moments by the fire.

Over the years, I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful holiday traditions aren’t fancy—they’re furry. Here are a few sweet, simple ways to make your dog part of the magic this season.

🎁 Let Them Open a Gift (or Two… or Three)

I don’t know about your dogs, but mine love ripping wrapping paper more than the toy inside. Try wrapping a treat or a squeaky toy in easy-to-tear paper, and let them go for it. You’ll laugh, they’ll wiggle, and yes—it makes the cutest photo memory. The mess is worth it.

🐾 Make a Paw-Print Ornament

This one gets me every year. A little air-dry clay, a gentle paw press, and you’ve made something you’ll treasure forever—and hang on your tree year after year. You’ll look back one day and remember exactly how tiny those puppy paws used to be… or how your senior dog sat so patiently for their turn.

📸 Holiday Family Photos (With Real Family—Including the Dog)

Pets aren’t props—they’re family. Whether it’s cozy sweaters on a snowy trail or snuggled up on a blanket by the fireplace, these moments aren’t just “cute”—they’re real. They’re stories. They’re love.

It doesn't matter if your dog refuses to sit still, sticks their tongue out, or photobombs every shot—honestly, those are the best pictures.

🍪 Bake Something Just for Them

If you're already in the kitchen making cookies, set aside 15 minutes to whip up something dog-safe. Pumpkin bites, cranberry oat treats, or those adorable dog “gingerbread” bones—your kitchen will smell like the holidays, and your dog will wait by the oven with hopeful eyes.

Tip: Make extras as little gift bags for your friends’ dogs. They’ll love it.

🌟 Holiday Lights Walk — Dog Style

Bundle up, grab your pup, and walk through your neighborhood at night to see the lights. Dogs love the sounds, the smells, the excitement—and honestly, there’s something magical about walking under twinkle lights with your dog by your side.

Some towns even have dog-friendly holiday light events—and yes, they make for beautiful photos.

🧣 Create a “Festive First” Tradition

Celebrate the first snow of the season with a photo, take a “first under the tree” picture every year, or capture that sleepy Christmas morning cuddle by the fireplace. These little rituals become snapshots of the years we spend with our dogs—each one a gift.

💞 Let Your Dog Be Part of the Giving

One year, I brought extra blankets and toys to the shelter—just simple things. But I tied a tag to each gift that said, “From [my dog’s name], with love.” It felt right. Consider sponsoring a shelter dog’s adoption fee, making treat bags, or volunteering—your dog doesn’t have to be there physically to be part of it.

💛 Slow Down Together

A quiet evening, soft music, a glowing tree, your dog asleep at your feet—this is the part of the holidays you’ll miss someday. They don’t care about schedules, decorations, or shopping. They remind us to just be—to sit in warmth, to enjoy a crackling fire, and to be present.

Maybe that’s the best tradition of all.